Possible recycled mobile number. How common is this?
Posted by PlutoZYX@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 23 comments
I switched to a new mobile number about 6 months ago with Three. When resetting my password on Instagram using my number I noticed it gave me the option to recover 3 different accounts which aren’t mine. They also each give the option to send an email request that is associated and each one is different although I can only partially see them as they are starred out.
My assumption is that my number has been recycled possibly multiple times. Have you ever had this issue with this on apps or websites?
PrestigiousGuess458@reddit
I have had this - when I got a new phone number, I regularly got calls from people looking for the previous owner of that number. I also logged into Bumble for the first time, and it was someone elses profile entirely (with the same name as the person who the callers were asking for).
VodkaSnowbunny@reddit
Lol this is actually interesting. I wonder if my number is tied to any dating apps. Lol
PrestigiousGuess458@reddit
Install some and find out 😅 the verification code came via text so I was able to actually get into their account (sorry guy, I deleted your account btw). Kinda a security loophole 👀
VodkaSnowbunny@reddit
😂
PlutoZYX@reddit (OP)
I haven’t had anyone trying to contact me like that as far as I know, but I do remember receiving a couple of phone calls within the first couple of days of activating the SIM. As far as I know they were just telemarketers but feel like I should have looked more into it at the time now.
VodkaSnowbunny@reddit
Omg I'm currently living this nightmare. Some dude never paid his bills or soemthing. I have creditors calling and a Corvette body shop, text messages from dent collectors to sign into their account to pay their debts. What a nightmare!
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Koala8633@reddit
Same thing happened to me
RetroRegretso@reddit
It's very uncommon and no, I haven't had this issue.
No_Height_2408@reddit
Incorrect, I had this a few months ago with Amazon and found out that its very common indeed according to Amazon and my network provider
RetroRegretso@reddit
That's so bizarre! I had the entire opposite experience with Amazon.
QuickTemperature7014@reddit
It’s odd. There’s 800 million possible numbers once you removed the reserved number blocks.
~522 million numbers have been allocated to providers but they won’t all have been used yet.
Recycling numbers too quickly is a security risk and can be upsetting when the previous has died.
But Ofcom thinks providers should recycle existing numbers after 30 to 90 days of inactivity.
Quite why we don’t work through the 278 million spare numbers or the allocated but never used numbers first is beyond me.
PlutoZYX@reddit (OP)
Yeah seems odd. Wondering if certain providers release them ASAP and whether their range of numbers to distribute is smaller than others.
DigitalStefan@reddit
Cheaper providers. Lyca mobile recently issued me a number previously owned by someone who is or was homeless and has been going to various NHS appointments and been invited to fill out a few “how was your visit?” questionnaires.
Eventually they will figure out that he has changed his number or doesn’t have one.
dogz_bollocks@reddit
Within 6 months of my Nan passing away, her number was "recycled"
Or, she faked her death and changed her Whatsapp profile picture to Mr Blobby to avoid the authorities
PlutoZYX@reddit (OP)
Have been researching this a lot since and seems quite common practice. I’m guessing pay as you go numbers are allocated differently to contracts otherwise would be getting pre used numbers constantly
R-Mutt1@reddit
Yeah my mate's ex changed colour
R-Mutt1@reddit
No but there are a few random pictures on the WhatsApp profiles of contacts I've had for years (but after the days you'd sell a phone intact with the existing PAYG SIM)
twmffatmowr@reddit
I only had this issue when I lived in France
HealthyWhereas3982@reddit
My work phone no was previously in use. I got multiple health care related calls/texts which I had to contact to say it wasn't me. I was concerned about the person missing appointments!
TedBob99@reddit
Usually, people want to keep the same phone numbers even when switching providers.
So not that common to get a new number. But it's to be expected that the number you get is not brand new. There is not an unlimited number of mobile numbers...
PlutoZYX@reddit (OP)
I had previously had the same number for about 10 years and regret switching it although I had a lot of issues with spam calls and texts. I really don’t want to switch again as it’s a pain remembering to update your details on everything but I’m worried about using this number now.
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